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Symptoms of Mild TBI and Concussion						Print
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										Some mild TBI and concussion symptoms may appear right away, while others may not appear for hours or days after the injury. Symptoms generally improve over time, and most people with a mild TBI or concussion feel better within a couple of weeks.
**Symptoms of mild TBI and concussion may affect how you feel, think, act or sleep**
Symptoms of mild TBI and concussion are different for each person. Symptoms may change during recovery. For example, you may have headaches and feel sick to your stomach earlier on. A week or two after your injury you may notice you feel more emotional than usual or have trouble sleeping.
Symptoms of mild TBI and concussion
**Physical**
**Physical**
**Physical**
**Thinking and Remembering**
**Thinking and Remembering**
**Thinking and Remembering**
**Social or Emotional**
**Social or Emotional**
**Social or Emotional**
**Sleep**
**Sleep**
**Sleep**
Bothered by light or noise
**Physical**
Bothered by light or noise
Attention or concentration problems
**Thinking and Remembering**
Attention or concentration problems
Anxiety or nervousness
**Social or Emotional**
Anxiety or nervousness
Sleeping less than usual
**Sleep**
Sleeping less than usual
Dizziness or balance problems
**Physical**
Dizziness or balance problems
Feeling slowed down
**Thinking and Remembering**
Feeling slowed down
Irritability or easily angered
**Social or Emotional**
Irritability or easily angered
Sleeping more than usual
**Sleep**
Sleeping more than usual
Feeling tired, no energy
**Physical**
Feeling tired, no energy
Foggy or groggy
**Thinking and Remembering**
Foggy or groggy
Feeling more emotional
**Social or Emotional**
Feeling more emotional
Trouble falling asleep
**Sleep**
Trouble falling asleep
Headaches
**Physical**
Headaches
Problems with short- or long-term memory
**Thinking and Remembering**
Problems with short- or long-term memory
Sadness
**Social or Emotional**
Sadness
–
**Sleep**
–
Nausea or vomiting (early on)
**Physical**
Nausea or vomiting (early on)
Trouble thinking clearly
**Thinking and Remembering**
Trouble thinking clearly
–
**Social or Emotional**
–
–
**Sleep**
–
Vision problems
**Physical**
Vision problems
–
**Thinking and Remembering**
–
–
**Social or Emotional**
–
–
**Sleep**
–Symptoms may be difficult to sort out as they are similar to other health problems
After a mild TBI or concussion:
A person may not recognize or admit that they are having problems
A person may not understand how the symptoms they are experiencing affect their daily activities
Problems may be overlooked by the person with the mild TBI or concussion, family members, or healthcare providersSeek immediate emergency medical care if you have danger signs
**Danger signs in adults**
In rare cases, a dangerous blood clot that crowds the brain against the skull can develop. The people checking on you should call 9-1-1 or take you to an emergency department right away if you:
Have a headache that gets worse and does not go away
Experience weakness, numbness, decreased coordination, convulsions, or seizures
Vomit repeatedly
Have slurred speech or unusual behavior
Have one pupil (the black part in the middle of the eye) larger than the other
Cannot recognize people or places, get confused, restless, or agitated
Lose consciousness, look very drowsy or cannot wake up**Danger signs in children**
Call 9-1-1 or take your child to the emergency department right away if they received a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or body, and:
Have any of the danger signs for adults listed above
Will not stop crying and are inconsolable
Will not nurse or eat
							
					
							Last Reviewed:  April 10, 2023						Source: 	Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control
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